Geranium plant named ‘Pacmorsu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacmorsu’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; semi-double dark orange-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACMORSU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pacmorsu’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform semi-double flowered ZonalGeranium plants with dark green-colored leaves with a zonation patternand attractive flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2004 of twounnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany in June, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany since January, 2006, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pacmorsu’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pacmorsu’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Vigorous growth habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Long flowering period.    -   7. Semi-double dark orange-colored flowers.    -   8. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium×hortorum ‘Drapin’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,561.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of thenew Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Drapin’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more vigorous than        plants of ‘Drapin’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had a more        distinct zonation pattern than leaves of plants of ‘Drapin’.    -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium flowered later than plants        of ‘Drapin’.    -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger flowers than        plants of ‘Drapin’.    -   5. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Drapin’ differed in        flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacmorsu’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers in Dresden, Germanyin a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and autumn and underconditions which closely approximate commercial Geranium production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C.,night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were four months old when the photographwas taken and plants were nine months old when the description wastaken. In the detailed description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Pacmorsu’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About four weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely            foliated; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching            habit with about 17 lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 40 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 55 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform, rounded.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; velvety.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,            close to 146B. Zonation pattern: Distinct. Location of zone:            Towards margin. Width: About 2.5 cm. Color: Close to 147A.            Petiole: Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement/shape.—Semi-double rotate flowers            arranged in rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical            leaf axils; umbels displayed above the foliage on strong            peduncles; depending on the position in the umbel, flowers            face upright to outwardly; flowers slightly cupped.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 28 flower            umbels develop per plant; each umbel with about 32 flower            buds and open flowers.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions;            long flowering period, in the garden in Dresden, Germany,            flowering is continuous from April until frost in the            autumn; plants begin to flower about 80 days after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten            days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 8 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 12 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Shell-shaped. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About eight; petals imbricate.            Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Darker than            32A; at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 32A;            color does not fade with development. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 41C; at the base, close to            155D; venation, close to 41C.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three. Length: About            1.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Darker than 32A; at the base,            close to 155D; venation, close to 32A; color does not fade            with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 41C; at the base, close to 155D; venation,            close to 41C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About            4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3.5 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About nine. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:            Tubular. Anther color: Close to 176A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 169A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma            shape: Five to six-parted. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Style            length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 46A. Ovary color:            Close to 139D.        -   Seeds.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About            1 mm. Color: Close to 165A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about    1° C. to about 35° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good    garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacmorsu’ as illustrated and described. 